(Honolulu) – The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is launching a new series of pops concerts called “Music that POPS.” Designed to have wide popular appeal, the three-program series will bring rich orchestral power to a variety of popular genres.

On Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., the first of the three “Music that POPS” programs will be “Hooray for Hollywood,” a celebration of great film scores that picks up where last year’s “Star Wars and More” concert left off. Former HSO timpanist and frequent HSO guest conductor Stuart Chafetz will lead and emcee the program, which will include tunes from the movies Gone with the Wind, Dr. Zhivago, Mission Impossible, Psycho, Star Wars’ Phantom Menace, Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park and Star Trek.

The second program will feature “Disney in Concert – Magical Music from the Movies” on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. The HSO and four Disney singers will perform musical hits along with video from iconic films such as The Little Mermaid, Frozen, The Lion King and many others.

The final program on Friday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. will be “Cirque de la Symphonie,” featuring eight Cirque acrobats, aerialists and strongmen performing to selections by the HSO, under the direction of Stuart Chafetz.

All “Music that POPS” programs will be performed at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, and a 15 percent discount is offered with the purchase of all three shows. Tickets start at $27 and are available at hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org and ticketmaster.com or by calling 94-MUSIC. In-person sales are available at the HSO Box Office, 3610 Waialae Ave., or at the Blaisdell Box Office, 777 Ward Ave.

About the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra

The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra was founded in 2011 and made its debut in 2012. The new HSO carries on the legacy of the Honolulu Symphony, which was founded in 1900 and performed for more than a century. The orchestra employs 84 professional musicians and presents classical masterworks, pops, education and community programs.

The mission of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is to present the highest-quality performances of great music, bringing national and international distinction to the orchestra and its community; to delight and educate audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and enhance the cultural vitality and quality of life in these Islands; and to operate in a financially sound manner.